Islamabad, January 8, 2026: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Thursday hosted a high-level Capacity Building and Technical Awareness Session organised by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on 2-D Barcode and Serialization, as well as the Harmonised Proforma for Inspection of Pharmaceutical Units.
Held at the ICCI premises, the session was widely attended by regulators, technical experts, government officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, reflecting strong stakeholder interest in regulatory reforms aimed at improving transparency and quality assurance.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the pharmaceutical sector is among Pakistan’s most sensitive and strategic industries, with a direct bearing on public health, patient safety, national credibility and export potential. He stressed that reforms related to traceability, transparency and quality assurance should be viewed as national imperatives rather than mere technical requirements.
The ICCI president appreciated DRAP’s facilitative and consultative approach, noting that proactive engagement with the industry would help ensure smooth implementation of revised regulations. He said the introduction of 2-D barcoding and serialization marks a significant step towards aligning Pakistan’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework with international best practices and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
“These measures will help curb counterfeit medicines, strengthen supply-chain integrity, improve recall efficiency, enhance confidence in locally manufactured products and facilitate access to regulated international markets,” he said.
Reaffirming ICCI’s commitment, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the chamber would continue to provide a constructive platform for regulator–industry dialogue, support awareness and training initiatives, and advocate for clarity, phased implementation and sustained consultation. He urged pharmaceutical manufacturers to view serialization as an investment in credibility, competitiveness and export readiness, while calling on regulators to maintain a balanced and facilitative inspection regime during the transition period.
Earlier, the Director of the Quality Assurance and Laboratory Testing Division at DRAP briefed participants on the Harmonised Report Writing Proforma for inspectors of pharmaceutical units. Additional Director DRAP, Ms Tehreem Sara, delivered a detailed presentation on the 2-D Barcode and Serialization Rules, outlining compliance requirements and implementation mechanisms.
Secretary General of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA), Nawaz Ahmed, also addressed the session and shared the industry’s perspective on regulatory implementation. Faisal Muzammal, Chairman PPMA Committee and Chairman of ICCI’s Standing Committee on Pharmaceuticals, emphasised the need for sustained engagement between DRAP and industry stakeholders.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by ICCI Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry, who reiterated the collective resolve to work jointly for ensuring safe and quality medicines, enhancing regulatory credibility and building a globally competitive pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan.
